Changes in Economic Development Policies and Strategies

Changes in Economic Development Policies and Strategies

The Factors which led to Changes in Economic Developmental Policies and Strategies

Explain the factors which led to changes in economic developmental policies and strategies

After independence many African states experienced economic problems which inherited from colonialism as colonialist aimed at maximizing profits and minimizing costs as a result they applied different policies that left African states with economic problem hence the changes in political, social and economic sector was inevitable. Among of the factors that necessitated the changes of economic development policies and strategies after independence involves the problems inherited

Economic and social factors

Economic crises, the colonial government left African states with economic crises due to intensive exploitation of African resources both human resources and material resources. For example the exportation of raw materials like agricultural materials and minerals and importing expensive manufactured goods.

Inadequate infrastructures, most of African independent states experienced inadequate of infrastructures such as schools, hospitals transport networks since the colonialists failed to provide it in every region hence there were regional imbalance development. For example there were no regional roads or railway links between one region from another as most of the transport network developed around the turn of the country to facilitate exportation of raw materials from Africa and importation of manufactured goods from Europe. Not only that but also the few infrastructure built needed repair hence the need for changes of economic and strategies so as to copy with the situation.

Economic stratification in the society, after independence there were two classes that of the peasants who lived in rural areas living in miserable poverty as they depended on agriculture activities which had low prices and the other class of bourgeoisie or working class lived in towns in a good standard of leaving compared to the peasants in the rural areas. For example around 95% of the populations were rural dwellers depended on agriculture for survival and only 5% the working class who lived in towns. Thus the need for economic changes to help the majority who lived in miserable poverty

Dependency economy, after independence most of the African states characterized by dependent economy as they did not produce what they consume and consume what they did not produce. For example they produced raw materials and exported it to the European nations especially to their former colonial masters and consumed finished goods that imported from Europe. Following this situation there was the need for economic changes.

Inadequate industries, African independent states experienced deindustrialization this was due to the fact that the colonialists prepared Africa as potential market for European goods that is why they did not industrialize Africa. Following this after independence African states started to change the economic strategy as a result they could industrialize.

Cultural dependence, the independent Africans wanted to develop their national culture through abandoning the foreign culture that was established by the colonialist before independence.

Political factors

Administration centralization, the colonialist left Africa with highly centralized administration system whereby central leader had got a lot of power in the state as a result such system brought inefficient and incompetence leaders and misdirection in administration. Hence there was a need to change political system.

Existence of relationship between military structures and political administration, the military structures was organized in the way that it was not separated from political administration this resulted to the rise of coup de-tat for example political juntas took over the political arena resulted to political instability and economic sabotage.

Tribalism among the Africans, after the independence most of African states experienced tribalism which influenced by multiparty political system as most of the states were based on the personal ethnic or regional origin of a particular politician, therefore this situation necessitated political changes.

Foreign administration structure, after independence national planning remained in the hand of foreigners not only that but also most of the important sector like financial and military sectors. Whereby foreigners were involved in political issues

The Economic Development Policies and Strategies Adopted in Africa after Independence

Analyse the economic development policies and strategies adopted in Africa after independence

African countries after independence adopted different economic development and strategies for the aim of accelerating economic development through heavy infusion of capital investment either private, bilateral or both. The following are common economic strategies adopted by African countries after independence.

Economic strategies adopted after independence

Establishment of parastatals African governments established different bodies in order to curtail the control of the African economies by foreigners and the relative weaknesses of domestic capitalism. For example generation and transmission of electricity, telecommunications, railways, postal and banking services

Establishment of schemes such as agricultural schemes aiming at promoting agricultural developments and settlement schemes for the aiming to provide landless citizens with adequate land; for example in Tanzania there was villagization policy was part of this strategy while in Kenya land settlement schemes established in the former white settlers farms.

Authority delegation soon after independence particularly in 1960s and 1970s African countries delegated authorities from higher levels to lower levels of government especially to provinces and districts for example Chilalu Agricultural Development Unity (CADU) in Ethiopia, Lilongwe Land Development Program (LLDP) in Malawi, the Special Rural Development Program (SRDP) in Kenya and Intensive Development Zones (IDZ) in Zambia.

Development planning this involved setting targets to be achieved within a set period usually based on five years plan.

Economic blueprint facilitated donor countries to support development projects and achieving political support from the public.

Establishment of import substitution industries in different African countries in order to promote industrialization, expand employment opportunities and build African economies through exports.

The Strengths, Weaknesses and Contribution of the Economic Development Policies and Strategies Adopted in Africa after Independence

Assess critically the strengths, weaknesses and contribution of the economic development policies and strategies adopted in Africa after independence

The strengths of the economic policies and strategies adopted in Africa after independence

Achieving in measures of economic development especially many socialist countries; for example Tanzania under Julius. K. Nyerere and Ghana under Nkwame Nkurumah advocated self sufficiency in food production.

Improvement of infrastructures soon after independence most African countries was having inadequate and poor infrastructures like roads, railways and ports so they decided to improve them.

Expansion of industries resulted by establishment of import substitution industries as an economic planning with a view of improving and builds African economies through exports.

Mobilization of Africans to participate in development following adoption of socialist policy which required Africans to take charge of their economies for example the Ujamaa village in Tanzania was useful in enhancing mobilization.

Establishment of training institutions with the view of training African public servants in different fields in order to take part in development of their countries.

Weaknesses of the economic policies and strategies adopted in Africa after independence

Corruption and inefficiency of public servants or government officials this was due to the fact that the new public officers were not well acquainted with administrative responsibilities. For example in 1990s the government of Kenya lost over 5.8 billion Kenya shillings because of high level of corruption involving senior officials in government offices. Similar incident happened in Tanzania in 2007 where a number of senior officials were forced to resign because of high level of corruption involving generation of electric power in the country

Establishment of settlement schemes in marginal lands and away from infrastructures like roads and urban centers this hindered the implementation of agricultural strategies.

Emergence of a wide gap between the rich and the poor in the country particularly in the countries that adopted capitalist ideology for example in Kenya some parts like urban centers and Nairobi attained more economic development than other parts like the Coast Province, North Eastern and some parts of the lift valley provinces. Not only that but also foreigners owned a lot of wealth in the country and repatriated a lot of profits back to their own countries as the system allowed for capital accumulation.

Contributions of the economic policies and strategies adopted in Africa after independence

Economic growth facilitated by adoption and implementation of various economic policies and strategies in the country. For example agricultural production increased because of the need to produce more cash crops for exports, industrial raw materials and food self sufficiency.

Establishment of new industries for processing raw materials and manufacturing goods

Establishment of dams for supplying hydroelectric power in the country; for example in Tanzania dams like Mtera playing an important role of supplying hydroelectric powers in the country

Employment opportunities this created by foreign investment especially in capitalist economies like Kenya and Ivory Coast.

Infrastructure development most African countries established and improved infrastructures in the countries for example in Tanzania a new railway line was established that connected the country to Zambia through the assistance of Chinese government.

Africanization of the economy done by both socialist and capitalist countries, helped to bring businesses which were formally controlled by foreigners under the control of the indigenous people.

Value of agricultural activities most of African governments especially in socialist countries like Tanzania made an attempt to recognize agriculture by grouping small household farms in villages and encouraging collective production.

Establishment of new state-owned bodies or enterprises in different countries in the continent through state driven development for example by 1985 there were over 400 state-owned corporations in Tanzania.